E-Business
NCS Abuja Chapter Maiden Workshop Centers On Local Content
In an attempt to draw government’s attention to its chapter members’ views on how best to improve the economy, the Abuja Chapter of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) will today, Friday, December 2, 2016 hold its maiden annual workshop.
Barrister Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications is expected to chair the Workshop while Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, DG of NITDA will deliver the lead paper; Professor Sola Aderounmu, NCS president is the special guest of honour.
Speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek on the workshop with the theme, ‘The Role of ICT in Taking Nigeria Out of Economic Recession’, Mr. Rex Abitogun, the chapter chairman, said that reiterated that ICT has major role to play in lifting the economy out of the present quagmire.
Mr. Abitogun, also said that local content driven economy would help to entrench transparency, accountability and efficiency in the economy, thereby, blocking the economic leakages across the nation.
The chapter chairman who made reference to Treasury Single Account (TSA), he said that the results so far depict local talents as crucial in assessing ‘local’ and the development of workable tools.
Mr. Abitogun said, “Presently, we are having big challenge in the country; that is the economic recession. How do we get out this? ICT has a major role to play. With all modesty, if we want to get out of the recession, IT has a major role, because IT is about transparency, accountability and efficiency. So, if we have these three things then we can save money by blocking loopholes in the economy. A good example of that is the TSA which has saved government a lot of money. It also tells you that if we can automate most of our processes, we can save a lot of money for the government.
“This conference is important too as we expect the Minister of Communications to grace the occasion and inform stakeholders about critical steps been taken on local content. The DG of NITDA to present lead paper; we feel it is the way to go. It is high time we started having national planning that revolves round leveraging ICT. As it has been observed, when national planning is being done we hear about having good road networks, power, agriculture or other physical policies, but ICT tranverses all; from broadband to local content, we have to empower our youths.
“Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) as an advocacy group has been liaising with government and other stakeholders on way forward. One thing we are taking from here is that this workshop will be different from others where communiqués are dumped in the waste bin or allowed to lick dusts on shelves. We are going to be on their neck to ensure speedy implementation. Secondly, it is not as though local content is not garnering enough attention in the government circle, but the speedy is slow. However, we have to continue to look inwards, because Nigerians have a lot of innovations/ideas to showcase”.
He added that the Government cannot solve all problems; rather its role is to create enabling environment.
“The private sector identifies the problems and where to work with the government. That is why NCS has done well through its seven-fold membership associations. Through the public service body we can reach out to the government on areas requiring attentions and possible solutions. We have gone through the road and have succeeded. Today, JAMB is automated. The people behind the technology are Nigerians. TSA is functioning optimally; other countries are yet to understand how that can be done. Before Systemspecs was chosen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), they had called on other foreign solution providers, but SystemSpecs as an indigenous company understands what is lacking and how best it can be addressed”.
E-Business
NITDA, NIMC Partner for Seamless Data Exchange Capabilities
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a collaboration on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance synergy between digital identity, payment ecosystems and secure seamless data exchange capabilities for Nigeria.
NITDA, which made the announcement on its X handle, said that the collaboration was to further strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,
During the meeting, Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA, and Bisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC, with some management staff of both organisations, discussed various initiatives, which include building DPI stacks for a secured and seamless data exchange and forming partnerships to transform the national identity system.
This collaboration also aims to harness the potential of the innovative ecosystem and emphasise the use of public-key infrastructure (PKI) to drive digital transformation in Nigeria.
To ensure a smooth implementation, a 12-man committee was set up.
This committee will play a crucial role in kickstarting and harmonising the initiatives and is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation report within the next 4 weeks.
E-Business
Expert Urges FG to Harmonise NIN, BVN to Tackle Crimes
Noble Ajuonu, head, Sydani Technologies Ltd., has urged the Federal Government to harmonise National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) to tackle crimes and insecurity in the country.
Ajuonu made the call at a media roundtable, organised by Sydani Group in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable focuses on driving sustainability through a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s key development areas.
Ajuonu said that Nigeria could overcome its security challenges and pave the way for a safer, more secure future for all Nigerians by embracing technology and implementing practical solutions,
“We need to harmonise data, prioritise seamless integration of databases like NIN, BVN, and security agency records, establish clear protocols for data sharing and access, with robust safeguards against misuse,’’ expert said.
According to him, the unified data pool will empower intelligence gathering and targeted operations.
He also called for investments in smart surveillance, intelligent video analytics software, training of personnel in data analysis, interpretation of data in real-time to combat crimes.
“There is need to implement a legal framework for call interception in criminal investigations, with strict oversight to prevent abuse, encourage community cohesion, training of tech savvy security personnel with tech-enabled tools.’’
Ajuonu also urged the government to address infrastructure deficit in technology, saying that technology was all encompassing to address insecurity.
“According to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as of December 2023, only 104.2 million Nigerians had been enrolled for the National Identity Number (NIN).’’
Ajuonu added that over 122.2 million citizens left uncaptured for NIN were people in rural areas where enrolment centres, digital services were limited.
“Most crimes are being perpetuated from rural communities and this lack of comprehensive identification creates a gap where elements not captured in the national database can constitute public nuisance, crimes.
“There is the inadequacy in the integration of NIN, BVN and Voters Identification Number (VIN).
“Advanced call interception and analysis tools, used successfully in other countries, could provide invaluable insights into criminal networks and operations but infrastructure is lacking,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Godfrey Petgrave, the Agricultural Expert, Sydani Group, called for empowerment of smallholder farmers with access to finance and training to enhance productivity.
According to Petgrave, Nigeria requires policy reform and institutional strengthening to improve agricultural practices and embrace digital agriculture solutions to address food insecurity.
Mr Akolade Jimoh, another expert of the group on health, advocated for expanded community-based health insurance programmes for rural and underserved areas.
Jimoh added that the country needed to encourage Public Private Partnership to revolutionise products design and quality improvement on health services.
E-Business
Konga launches Infinix Brand Week with Incredible Deals
Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce group, is thrilled to announce the launch of amazing deals at its Infinix Brand Week. Infinix, a leading global smartphone brand known for its innovative products and cutting-edge technology promises exclusive discounts and special offers on select smartphones, marking an exciting milestone in the realm of online shopping.
Shoppers can expect nothing short of extraordinary deals on a wide range of Infinix products, all available exclusively on the Konga online platform. With discounts of up to 30% off, this partnership between Konga and Infinix aims to redefine the shopping experience for tech enthusiasts across Nigeria.
Konga Brand Week has become synonymous with excitement and unbeatable deals, and this year’s edition is no exception. In addition to exclusive discounts on Infinix smartphones, shoppers can explore a diverse array of products across various categories, including electronics, fashion, home essentials, and more.
“At Konga, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best shopping experience possible,” said Rita Ohaedoghasi, VP Marketing at Konga. “The Infinix Week during Konga Brand Week allows us to continue delivering on that promise by offering incredible discounts and special offers on some of the most sought-after smartphones in the market.”
To stay updated on the latest developments and exclusive deals during Konga Brand Week, shoppers are encouraged to connect with Konga across all platforms, including social media and the Konga website. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to score big savings and elevate your tech game with Infinix and Konga.
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